Wall flashing
Flashing that runs up the wall and under metal where most flat roof leaks start.
Flat Roofing
Modified Bitumen Roofing Parsippany, NJ
Modified bitumen roofing in Parsippany is a multi-ply asphalt roof, usually a base sheet and a granulated cap sheet, used on flat and low-slope roofs, after checking the deck, the drainage and what is left of the old roof. Call (862) 693-4349 to reach a local roofer.
Modified bitumen is asphalt with rubber or plastic polymers mixed in, made into reinforced rolls that go down in two or more layers. The two main types are SBS, which is rubbery and flexible in cold weather, and APP, which is more plastic-like and is usually torched. With two or three plies, the finished roof is thick and puncture resistant.
The application method is one of the first decisions on a modified bitumen job. Torch-down uses an open flame to melt the back of the sheet onto the layer below, which makes strong laps but calls for strict fire safety near wood and insulation. Self-adhered and cold-adhesive systems avoid the flame and are often chosen for homes and occupied buildings.
Mod bit fails in predictable ways, which helps when you call. Note any blisters or bubbles, cracking in the cap sheet, bare spots where granules have washed off and laps that are lifting at the edges. Mention whether the roof has been coated or patched with roofing cement, since that changes how new material will stick.
Modified Bitumen Roofing is often paired with flat roof replacement and flat roof repair, depending on the cause.
Need modified bitumen roofing in Parsippany? Call (862) 693-4349 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The modified bitumen process
Each layer of a mod bit roof has its own job.
Survey the existing roof
A core cut and a walk of the roof show how many layers exist and whether moisture is trapped. With two roofs already in place or wet insulation present, a tear-off is the norm.
Tear off old roofing
On a tear-off, everything comes down to the deck and damaged plywood or planks are replaced. Where the roof ponds, tapered insulation is added to move water off.
Lay the base sheet
A smooth base sheet goes down first, fastened or adhered depending on the deck. Laps are offset so seams in the cap sheet do not land on seams below.
Install the cap
A cap sheet with mineral granules is applied over the base sheet. Lap edges are checked for a continuous seal, and loose granules are pressed into any bleed-out.
Detail the edges
Walls, curbs and penetrations get reinforced flashing plies that run up and are capped with metal. New drip edge or gravel stop and properly set drain flashings finish the edges.
Keep a fire watch
If any torching was done, the crew stays on watch after the flame goes off to make sure nothing is smoldering. A final walk checks laps, flashings and drainage.
What is included
What a mod bit roof includes
Tapered insulation
Insulation and cover board built to current code levels.
Base ply
A fastened or adhered base layer laid with laps offset from the cap.
Drain flashing
Metal edges and flashed drain bowls set into the membrane plies.
Cap sheet
A granulated cap sheet in white or a dark color with fully sealed laps.
Related service
Torch Down Roof Repair Parsippany, NJ
Repairing a torch-down roof usually means cutting out the bad section and fusing new modified bitumen over it. Blisters are cut open, dried, resealed and covered with a patch of new cap sheet that laps well beyond the cut. Fresh granules over the hot asphalt help protect the repair.
In Parsippany, many torch-down repairs sit close to wood framing, so fire safety is part of every job. Many roofers switch to self-adhered or cold-applied patches in tight spots where an open flame is a risk. After torching, a watch period for smoldering material is standard practice.
Related service
Built Up Roofing Parsippany, NJ
Built up roofing, often called tar and gravel, is the older cousin of modified bitumen: alternating layers of roofing felt and hot asphalt or coal tar, topped with gravel. The gravel protects the bitumen from sun and foot traffic, so bare spots where it has blown or washed away are a common source of trouble. With age, these roofs blister, crack at the flashings and open at the edges.
Most built up roof repairs in Parsippany start by clearing the gravel, then patching with new plies and setting gravel back in place. Because these roofs are heavy, recovering over one can strain the structure, and many owners choose a tear-off when the time comes. The replacement is often a mod bit or single-ply roof that is lighter and easier to maintain.
Local help
Modified Bitumen Roofing Near Me
Modified bitumen roofs in Parsippany cover everything from older homes with flat sections to strip centers and churches. From Parsippany out to Lake Hiawatha, Mountain Lakes, Boonton and Whippany, roofs range from aging two-ply systems with worn granules to newer self-adhered roofs on additions, so a check of laps and flashings every year or two catches small trouble early.
Need modified bitumen roofing around Parsippany? Call (862) 693-4349 for a Parsippany roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Parsippany
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Parsippany is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Parsippany know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about modified bitumen roofing
Is torch-down roofing safe?
The open flame is the main concern with torch-down roofing. Safe practice includes not torching directly on wood, keeping extinguishers on the roof and watching for smoldering after the flame is off. Self-adhered sheets give the same kind of roof without a torch.
What is the lifespan of a torch-down roof?
Most mod bit roofs last somewhere between 15 and 25 years with reasonable care. Drainage and the condition of the cap sheet granules make the biggest difference. A reflective coating applied before the cap sheet wears out can extend its life.
Can a mod bit roof be coated?
Modified bitumen takes coatings well when the cap sheet is sound and the roof drains. Before coating, the roofer repairs blisters and laps and may use a bleed-blocking primer. White coatings reflect sun, which helps the asphalt last.
Do I need a tear-off for a new mod bit roof?
The core cut tells the roofer. If there is a single, dry, sound roof, a recovery board and new mod bit may go over it. If there are already two roofs, blistering throughout or wet insulation, a tear-off is the right move.
What is the difference between modified bitumen and built up roofing?
Both are asphalt roofs built in layers, but they are made differently. Built up roofs stack felts and hot bitumen with gravel on top, and mod bit uses two or three factory-made sheets with granules. The polymer sheets stay flexible in cold and are easier to repair.
More questions? Call (862) 693-4349
Often needed together
Flat Roof Replacement
Full replacement of failing flat roofs, with a moisture survey deciding tear-off or recover, with tapered insulation where water used to sit.
Learn moreFlat Roof Repair
Flat roof repairs matched to the membrane, whether EPDM, TPO, PVC, modified bitumen or built-up, after the real leak source is found, not guessed.
Learn moreTPO Roofing
TPO membrane roofs installed over new insulation or in place of a worn flat roof, built around proper drainage, flashing and edge metal.
Learn moreCommercial Roof Replacement
Full replacement of membrane, built-up and metal roofs on commercial buildings, planned around rooftop units and drains.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet modified bitumen roofing help in Parsippany
Call (862) 693-4349 for a local roofer in Parsippany and nearby towns.